IPL 2025: What is RAPP- The unique rule that allows a player from outside the team to play?

The 18th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is set to kick off on March 22, 2025, at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, with an opening match between the Kolkata Knight Riders and the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Amidst the excitement, a unique rule known as the Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP) has caught the attention of cricket fans.

What is RAPP?

The Registered Available Player Pool (RAPP) is a mechanism introduced by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) that allows franchises to sign replacement players temporarily under exceptional circumstances.

This pool consists of players who were part of the IPL auction but remained unsold or had withdrawn from the auction process. Any replacement must come exclusively from this list.

When Can a Player Be Replaced?

One key provision under RAPP applies to wicketkeepers. If all the wicketkeepers in a franchise’s registered squad are unavailable for a match, the team can seek permission from the BCCI to bring in a short-term replacement from outside its squad.

However, once any original wicketkeeper returns, the replacement player is immediately ineligible to play.

A similar provision exists for players suffering from season-ending injuries or illnesses. A replacement can be signed if:

1. The injury occurs before or during the team’s 12th league match.

2. A BCCI-appointed doctor confirms the injury is season-ending.

3. The player would have been available for the rest of the season if not for the injury.

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Other Conditions for Player Unavailability

Apart from injuries, a player can be replaced if they are completely unavailable for all matches due to:

FTP (Future Tour Program) commitments.

1. Lack of a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their national or state association.

2. Retirement from all forms of professional cricket.

3. Other valid reasons approved by the BCCI.

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Financial and Squad Composition Rules

1. A franchise can only sign one replacement player per unavailable player.

2. The replacement player’s contract cannot exceed the fee of the original player.

3. Importantly, signing a replacement does not affect the franchise’s salary cap, but if the contract is extended for another season, the salary will be counted towards the cap.

4. Franchises must inform and seek approval from the BCCI before finalizing any replacement.

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A Rarely Used Rule

While the provision for temporary replacements has existed, there has been no recorded instance of any IPL team utilizing it in the league’s 17-year history.

However, this rule ensures that teams can manage unforeseen situations without disrupting the tournament’s balance. With IPL 2025 approaching, it remains to be seen if any franchise will make use of the RAPP provision for the first time.